Attal, for his part, has vowed to stay on “as long as necessary” in a caretaker role, while Macron’s office is studying options to maintain some form of government.
Macron is to remain in office until presidential and legislative elections in April 2027, but he must now face the possibility of sharing power with political foes.
The prospect of France forming its first far-right government since World War II has dismayed its European allies, already perplexed by Macron’s wild gamble on a snap poll.
And even if the RN falls short, as polling firms now predict, France will be heading into unknown political waters as Paris prepares to host the Olympic Games.
In an effort to halt the far-right rise seen in the first round of voting on Jun 30, centrists and left-wing parties have formed second round polling pacts.
Le Pen has denounced the move as a bid to steal victory “against the will of the people” by creating what she calls a “single party” to protect the political class.
But it is far from certain how many voters who saw their preferred candidates drop out to give another a clear run against the RN will bother to turn out on Sunday.
